I suspect that each of us can identify poets who have had significant influence on our writing. Perhaps some of these who mentor us, whether or not they are aware of their influence, enjoy renown—Poet Laureates, Pulitzer or Nobel Prize winners, for example. Others may be more obscure poets or even those we have met here at dVerse Poets’ Pub and in other online poetry communities.

Those of us who have not had the advantage of higher education in our art still have the opportunity to learn independently by reading books on craft of poetry and, above all, by drinking in the work of poets whom we admire. Read, read, read is perhaps the wisest advice offered to writers of all ilk. My addiction to the intoxicating world of literary art is supported by the ease of access offered by the Internet and through my Kindle which offers free downloads of so many of our poetic predecessors.

A literary allusion in poetry is, simply put, a reference to another literary work. This can encompass sources such as mythology, the Bible, performance art, a novel, or, of course, another poem. Think of it as a sort of hypertext, linking the reader to another piece of literature, art, or any form of creative expression. Examples of literary allusion also include ekphrasis and response poetry. You are no doubt familiar with ekphrasis, when a work of visual art serves as the inspiration for a poem. A response poem is written, as it implies, in response to another poet, a sort of answering-back.

I will use a couple of my own poems as an example so that I don’t mess with copyright infringement.

I think the world will slowly expire,
no need for ice, nor even fire.
I fear Mother Earth will die of neglect,
with a whimper, a sigh.
Oh, I suspect
she will quietly
die.

Photo Credit: Agricultural Research CenterPublic Domain

Pocahontas

Do you flee
the doe
or imminent change?

Or do you both know
that nothing will ever
be the same?

Will I do the same
as illusions
shatter in my world?

Last Saturday, in response to ManicDdaily’s prompt to write on the subject of Armistice/Truce, fellow poet Roslyn Ross penned a poem that reflects on the well-known rondeau by John McCrae:

In Flanders FieldJohn McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Public Domain

Photo Credit: Larry French

Fields of Flanders

Those flattened fields of Flanders
scream of battered souls
and muffled screams which pressed
beneath time’s tread has crushed
the cry of hurt beneath firm soil.
The heaving shape of shouldered pain
is locked by grasses -green terrain,
which grips and holds imprisoned fast,
the rotted world which once had passed:
in steady tread and muffled roar,
a raging spread of weeping sore.
The silence now holds heavy court
upon the place where thousands fought
and died with no-one there to see
them sucked beneath the seething sea;
a muddy grave which beckons still
with glutinous grin alive and well
beneath the veil of fragile green.

1988 – following a visit to the ‘trenches in Ypres. Poem used with permission.

Notice how Roslyn takes McCrae’s subject and theme and makes it her own, based on her experience of the place, using her own rhyme scheme and meter, imprinting her own emotions in this well-written poem.

For today’s prompt you are invited to jump into the waters of literary allusion. Here are a few ideas to get your muse in gear:

• Choose a poet/a poem that has influenced your own writing and bring your own unique experience to the topic.• Allude to an existing literary work or piece of art in a poem of your own creation.• Write a response poem. Answer back, either in agreement or opposition to the original piece.• Write a poem in the style of one of your favorite poets. Be sure to reference the influential source. Include it, if it doesn’t infringe on copyrights…or provide a link if you are able.• Allow the prompt to take you wherever you want to go. Just write.

To participate (and we hope you will):

• Write your poem and print it on your blog, citing the sources if you are able to, or providing a link.
• Access Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post and add your name and the direct URL of the poem from your blog or website.
• Visit other pubsters. Read and comment on their submissions, especially those who have made the effort to visit you.
• Enjoy your time creating and sharing your poetry. You never know…someday you may make another poet’s list of influencers!

For dVerse Poet’s Pub, I’m Victoria Slotto—happy to be your hostess at Meeting the Bar. Today, I’ll be on the road, but will catch up with you as soon as I can.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

About Victoria C. Slotto

RN, former hospice nurse, kidney transplant survivor, spiritual seeker, novelist, poet—Victoria C. Slotto is the author of two novels: "Winter is Past" and "The Sin of His Father", a collection of poetry: "Jacaranda Rain," and a Kindle Single: "Beating the Odds--Support for Persons with Early Stage Dementia, " all of which are available in e-book and print formats. Use the link on my blog or visit my website at http://victoriacslotto.com/ to purchase. Thank you!

Wow, Victoria, this challenge was more daunting than I expected. I chose Kazantzakis as my literary stimuli, and Alexis Zorba as the Chorus, sliding my past into the margins, as train loads of memories rattled by, many in 50 year chunks, half century bites. This poem, THE LAST WORDBENDER took a lot out of me, several more hours than I had envisioned as I started writing, becoming more saga than reminiscence. I am often surprised by my own passion for recall, for storytelling. I did not choose a poet as springboard, but poetry infused itself into the telling.

Sharing a piece inspired by and alluding to a poem by my favorite poet, Robert Frost. Actually written a couple of months ago, this Meeting the Bar: Literary Allusions seemed the perfect place to finally share!

its been a trying couple days…yesterday better than yesterday though we were probably missing 20% of them today…we have had counselors on hand and been loving on a bunch of kids and many classes seem more like memorials….we are holding a memorial at the flag in the morning for an hour before school and figure there will be viewing this weekend…still waiting to hear…

reminds me a lot of going to VT the day of the shooting and the days after the shooting working with the kids there…we will get through…i re-read Nikki Giovanni’s poem about it tonight…we will make it…

Hi Victoria – wonderful post – I am having a difficult time with everything lately – end of year rush seems already started at my office – and also trying to nanowrim – so I have posted a redraft of an older poem. Apologies to those who’ve read it. I do like the poem actually so I hope people don’t mind revisiting. Thanks.

I’ve got an appointment tonight so will not be visiting till quite late. k.

Wonderful post with some fabulous examples. Your prompt resembles the We Write Poems Prompt for 6th November. I put a lot of work into my response and am too tired to do another one, so I’ve put in the link to my original WWP poem

Hello, everyone! I just arrived home from a stunning 2-day drive from Palm Desert to Reno, snaking up alongside the Easter Sierra. I do this several times a year and it never fails to take my breath away. Lots of poetry begging to be written but as I was driving alone here’s hoping my memory will serve up something by the time I get to it.

Last night in Lone Pine, I had enormous problems with Internet Access (as I did the two days previously in the dersert.) So I have Tuesday’s visits and today’s to read. Looking forward to seeing all of you meeting the bar!

Dear Victoria,
I just read your synopsis of Winter Is Past two days ago, and here you are. I am new to dVerse and am thinking of giving this a try. However, I am thinking along the lines of a response to Murakami’s 1Q84 which I just finished. I have not started on it but I hope it counts.

Evening to all..excellent post..was intending to write something else tonight, but couldn’t resist..especially since my poem almost wrote itself…another chilly evening here..could use some cocoa to go with some Frostian “snowy woods”.

Oh Victoria ,this is just what the doctor ordered.. What a great post ! Have no idea what I am going to write but will be thinking about it as I prepare dinner That’s the great thing about poetry I can it write it in my head as I peel the onions 🙂
Your trip sounded wonderful…

Thanks for this great article Victoria.. I’m very alive to the potential of literary allusion and love to see it in poetry I read. My latest – by coincidence – fits the bill so hope you don’t mind me linking it again and look forward to reading all the wonderful work out there

i chose to continue one of Fireblossom/Shay’s “Danny’s Coffee Shop” poems {with her approval} though we all know i will NEVER be able to write like she does! it was fun though! thanks for the prompt, Victoria!

it’s almost 4am so i’ll be back to visit after getting some sleep. happy Friday, everyone!

As I read the allusion poems I have fun because most of them tell me about what they are alluding to. But allusion-heavy poetry without notes is often impenetrable and unwelcoming to me when I am not aware of the allusions.

Allusion-laden poetry may be fun to poetry types that love doing their homework or for inside signalling of an elite club — but I think for the common folk, it is another thing that can make poetry often unpopular.

Writing a poem with an intro or short explanation (if the poem is not complete in itself), can make a poem much richer for me. I love the poems others are offering here.

smiles…i hear you..and know what you mean…yet…sometimes i just enjoy being carried away by a poem…like riding a wave that i can’t control and have no idea where it comes from and where it goes…and i don’t care a sh… what it really means…smiles… and you may blame my jet-lagged brain for this…

I understand what you are saying, Sabio…especially when it comes to some of the classics, and I can imagine how difficult it could be for someone not schooled in English based lit. I find myself with huge knowledge gaps, too, and always appreciate process notes for more difficult poetry. I haven’t posted to the prompt yet myself and don’t know if I’ll be able to. If I do, I’ll add references.

I re-posted an older dVerse Poets Pub poem inspired by James Joyce and Manicdaily (K). Forgive me. I read this poem at an open mic last Sunday and was surprised to find it still timely. (You jusst have to remember about the word “vagina” being banned (in a way) in Michigan.)